The business and culture of our digital lives, from the L.A. Times

Mind controlled apps hit the market

Science fiction fans who have dreamed of having "the force" are in luck.

Two apps -- controlled and operated by mental power -- are now on sale in the Apple App Store from app developer MindGames in Iceland.

The Times previously reported on the mind-reading trend. The technology works using headsets that read brain waves and are essentially simplified and portable versions of electroencephalograph — or EEG — machines used in hospitals for decades to record brain activity.

One game app, dubbed W.I.L.D., rolled out last month for the iPhone and iPad for $4.99. By concentrating and relaxing, players navigate dream landscapes and complete tasks like putting out fires, bending spoons and creating galaxies "with the power of your mind," MindGames said in a statement.

The company's first app launched in December. Tug of Mind purports to train users how to relax under pressure. After uploading a headshot -- of an ex-boyfriend, say, or a mother-in-law -- the photo is transformed into an angry avatar that screams insults (you prerecord the message). The avatar starts smiling if the player remains calm; keep it up and the game is won. Price tag: $4.99.

Both games require a headset that reads brain waves, such as the Neurosky MindWave ($99.95) or the PLX XWave (price starts at $99.99).